Pottok

The pottok Pony [' Pocok ] is an old, rare pony breed from the Basque Country. Pottok, with the definite article also Pottoka means in the Basque language " little horse ". The animals still live semi- wild in the western Pyrenees, both in France and in Spain. In Spain they are also known under the name Poni Vasco Navarro, since they are held in the autonomous regions of the Basque Country and Navarre.

Background information on the evaluation and breeding horses can be found at: exterior, interior and horse breeding.

Exterior

Purebred pottok ponies under French breed standard " Section A" can be described as follows:

  • Very sturdy pony,
  • Rectilinear profile,
  • Short, high set, forward-facing ears,
  • Attentive, intelligent eye,
  • Rather short neck with a dense mane reaching to the withers,
  • Slightly sloping shoulder,
  • Broad chest,
  • Long back,
  • Short, sloping croup,
  • Dense, low set tail,
  • Correct leg position,
  • Dry, strong limbs,
  • Small hard hooves
  • Height: 115-147 cm
  • Color: all brown, fox and black colors and all dappled with one or more of the mentioned colors.

Mold does not occur.

Interior

Excellent health, longevity, fertility and affability. Extremely frugal, hard and resistant. Suitable for year-round free range in the presence of a shelter. Pottok are very intelligent and full of character ponies.

Breeding history

In France, a stud book is out since 1970, in Spain they are recognized as a separate breed since 1995. Your breed made ​​in stud farms, but also in the Basque mountains, where a selection of the most robust, wisest and strongest still done by nature. In the stables Arabs and Welsh pony stallions are crossed for finishing the race. These foals will be out in France as pottok Section B and must perform at least 50 percent pure Pottokblut. In Spain, even more distinguished. There is considered Pottoka type A, only the original type in the fur colors of black and brown with a Height of 130 centimeters or smaller. In type B are all purebred Pottokas without color constraint with a stick measurement of 140 centimeters. In type C ponies are allowed with at least 50 percent pure Pottoka blood and a stick of 147 centimeters. In Switzerland pottok been bred since 1998. Since 2000, a private breeding records are kept in Switzerland, which is recognized as the only foreign stud book of the Mutterstutbuch. Since 2004, the Swiss Pottokverein is a section of the " Swiss Association for ponies and small horses SVPK " which since then has also the studbook for the pottok in Switzerland. Bred by French standards.

Use

Pottok were for a long time for the farmers a " by-product " of the mountains. There they lived in herds, left to themselves. Once a year, they were rounded up and sorted out. Besides the use as a riding and driving ponies, they were often used for smuggling between France and Spain, had to pull the car into the coal mines. They are still used as a source of meat, but they are also kept for pleasure and used in recreational activities. However, they also excels in all areas of equestrian sport where they can prove their best performance, as shown by several championship titles won.

Basque Country (greater region) Equine coat color Autonomous communities of Spain Basque Country (autonomous community) Equine conformation Hoof Arabian horse List of horse breeds Aviron Bayonnais
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